August 7 2010

Wilfried Zaha

Crystal Palace opened their 2010/11 Championship campaign with a 3-2 victory over Leicester City.

George Burley was able to add his recent recruits to the squad after clearance from the Football League on Friday afternoon.

Owen Garvan and Julian Bennett were picked in the starting line-up alongside a strike partnership of Alan Lee and teenager Wilfried Zaha.

Early chances fell to Leciester's Lloyd Dyer who placed a couple of shots wide of Julian Speroni's goal.

In the 12th minute Palace begun to find their feet - Darren Ambrose's cross evaded Lee and shortly after Lee almost set up Zaha with a chance in the box.

However it was the front pairing who made the breakthrough for the home side in the 19th minute. Lee's flick-on found Zaha in the box and the 17-year-old finished with a volley past keeper Chris Weale for his first senior goal for Palace.

Palace continued to press City and after Lee was fouled just outside the penalty area Ambrose lined up a free kick, however his effort sailed over the bar.

It wasn't long though before Ambrose got onto the scoresheet. An impressive Kieron Cadogan in midfield passed the ball to the former Charlton man just outside the box and he drilled a shot past Weale.

The Eagles found themselves 3-0 up before the break when Cadogan's run and cross found Zaha in the box - after a neat turn and shot Weale could only block his effort into the path of Lee who tapped home on the goal line.

Leicester almost grabbed a goal back before the break but Speroni brilliantly tipped away a curling effort from Dyer.

Dyer had another chance to score in the second half on 56 minutes when his strong shot hit the crossbar.

A minute later and Leicester were back into the game - a Robbie Neilson cross was met at the back post by Andy King who nodded home to make it 3-1.

Leicester started to dominate the game and had further chances to grab a second goal.

Speroni was equal to efforts by Dyer and King, and Jack Hobbs put a free header wide of the goal from a corner.

Ambrose almost put the game beyond doubt when he broke free but his effort was well blocked by Weale.

Six minutes from time Claude Davis made a hash of a clearance which set up substitute Steve Howard to square the ball to Campbell who finished to make it 3-2.

The Eagles had a nervy last few minutes but managed to hold out to secure an opening day victory.

Palace: Speroni, McCarthy, Davis, Bennett, Clyne, Ambrose, Garvan, Dorman, Cadogan (Andrew, 63), Lee (N'Diaye, 63), Zaha (Djilali, 77)

Subs not used: Price, Barrett, Holland, Holness

Goals: Zaha 19, Ambrose 26, Lee 41

Today's results and scorers

2010/11 match reports

2010/11 squad stats

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